Switch-point operating and locking mechanism



Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,498

. H. w. PILLATOS SWITCH POINT OPERATING AND LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 23. 1927 I l I 6 v I j .9 JR 3 I 23 I INVENTOR dJYQrryIII'EZ QZ O BY w Momev Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENToFrica.

HAnnYw. r-rrinaros, or sroxnnn, wnsn'rneron, assrenon or onn rnran roanivrns s. saunas AND oun 'rmnn T ozone-r. s. nannies, Born on sronann wasnrne- TON.

Application filed February 23, 1927.

This invention relates toimprovenients in switch point operating and locking mechanism.

One of the objects of this invention is to shift the switch points and then look them in their shifted position, which of course involves an unlocking action prior to the shifting action as well as a locking action subsequently to the shifting action.

Now it is a feature of this intention to insure and make it impossible to finally accomplish the shifting of the switch points without following such action by the looking of the switch points into the position into which they have been shifted, thereby eliminating the human element of failure.

A further feature consists in the novel neans of embodying the operating mechanism in one unitary mechanism so that prior to shifting the switch points the latter will be unlocked, and subsequently to the shifting of said points, the latter will be automatically locked.

The invention has many other features and objects which will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and which will be more particularly pointed out in and by the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1, is a plan view of a railway switch showing the switch points locked in one position.

Fig. 2, is a partial plan view showing the switch point shifted and ready to be locked in a position reverse to that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a view similar to Fig. 2, after the switch point has been locked.

Fig. 4, is a sectional view on lined-41 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5, is a sectional view on line --5 of Fig. 4.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

In the drawing I have shown the preferred form of my invention in which the ties are indicated at 1 to i, and one of the track rails at 5 and the other at 6. The rails and 6 are mounted on the ties in the usual manner. I have indicated switch points at 7 and 8, the same being connected by a rod 9 so as to be moved or shifted in unison, as usuai.

SVJITCH-POINT OPERATING AND LOCKING MECHANISM.

Serial No. 170,341.

I will next refer to what primarily constitutes my invention.

Iliare shown switch point locking means in the form of movable locking blocks, and in the preferred construction, said blocks are rocked from locking to unlocking positions about a fixed axis. Said blocks are designated at 10 and Hand as both are identical in construction and operation, only one need be 'described indetail. Said bloolrlO, is provided with V-shaped cam recesses 12 and 13, the receiving portions thereof being outwardly rounded as shown at it and 15, the purpose of which is to insure registry of the switch pointstherewith, as will later appear. Said block 10, has an extension or arm 16, provided with a boss 17, which latter is non-rotatively mounted on a blo k actuating shaft 18. Said shaft 18, is journalled in bearings 19 and 20,. which may be mounted in any suitable manner but which are shown secured to the rails 5 and 6, respectively. Means is provided for normally moving or rocking said blocks into a locking position, and as shown, said means is in the form of a .con tractile spring 21, which is shown connected with an arm 22, mounted on shaft 18, and with any suitable fixed part such as tie 2, where it is anchored at 23. On the outer end of shaft 18, is an upstanding arm 2 1, secured to said shaft by boss 25, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. 1 Y 1 Reference will next be made to unitary mechanism, which is inclusive of spring 21, for causing operation of the switch points and blocks in sequential and synchronous.

order.

I have shown one end of tie 2,-enlarged at 26, and I suitably and vertically journal in said tie point operating shaft 27. A cam 528, is rotatable on or with said shaft 27 and I have shown an operating handle 29, projecting from said cam and adapted to be grasped by the switchinan in turning the cam. An arm 3'0, projects radially from said cam and is provided with a pin 31 adapted to loosely connect with rod 9, the latter having a slotted end 32, in the slot of which the pin 31 projects. Thus there will be a lost motion connection between arm 30 and rod 9, and the slot is wide enough to permit pin 31 to swing through an arc of which shaft 27 is the l l i center. Any suitable locking device, not shown, may be provided to lock cam 28, in either extreme position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Cam 23, has a cam projection 33, the purpose a of which will a presently be described.

Pivotcd in arm 2 at 34, is a cam bar 35, which is slidable in a bearing 36, that may be secured to tie 2, on the enlarged end 26. I have provided bar witha sharp end 37, but this is not essential.

I will next describe the operation of my device.

Assumingthat the switch points are in the 1' position shown in Fig. l, and it is desired to shift'theni to the F i 3 position the switchman will grasp han le 29 and turn cam 28 in a clock-wise direction. While pin 3l,is moving lengthwise of the bar .9, freely, to take up the lost motion, projection-33 will engage bar 35, and force thelatter tothe left of Fig. 1, thus rocking blocks 10 and ll free from engagementwith the switch points 7 and 8. Bar 35 will continue to ride on the peri Jhery of projection 33, thereby holding the hlocks 10 and 11 in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5, until the switch points have very nearly approached the position shown in Fig. 3, or more particularly, the positionshown in Fig.2. The arrangement is such that a slight slack is provided so that at this moment, the sharp edge 37 of bar 35, will: ride off the projection 33and along one sidetof the latter, .into the position shown in Fig. 3. If the switch points have not quite reached the position shown in Fig. 3, the camined positions 15 will guide the blocks 10 and 11 intoengagement with the switch points and engagement is effected, and the blocks 10 and 11 moved b spring 21 into a final position, the switch points will be slightly further moved into a final position by the :blocks themselves. The converging V-shaped cam recesses 12 and 13,.insuring movement of the switch points to a final position, which is a decided advantage.

Now assuming that it was desired to shitt the switch points back from the position shown in Fig. 3, to that shown in Fig. 1, the switchman will turn cam 28 in a contraclockwise direction viewing Fig. 3, and the projection 33 will first rock blocks 10 and 11 out of engagement with the switch points while the pin 31 is travelling through the slot in red 9 and until after the points have been shifted. The same cycle of movement will. occur that has been previously de scribed.

It will thus be seen that I have provided operating mechanism having a portion for shiftingthe "switch points laterally of, the rails and a portion for shifting the locking blocks substantially "parallel with the rails, the shifting movements being energized by said mechanism in sequential order.

It is believed that the device of my invention will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and while 1 have herein shown and described one specific fol-1n ot'gniy invention, I do not wish to belimitcd thereto except for such limitations as the claim may import.

I claim:

In combination, track rails and laterally movable switch points, rockahle switch point locking blocks, a spring normally acting to rock said-blocks into a switch point locking position, rotating means for shifting saiil switch points and saidmeans including a cam device for shifting said blocks out ol :1 locking position prior to and during shift ing moveinentof said switch points and re leasing said blocks after shifting mm'enient of said points.

Inwitness hereof, I hereby afiix my signature. i

HARRY W. PILLA'IOS. 

